Watch Them Grow

Deer Management

Buck-only Harvest Management

This strategy was common in the era of re-stocking and re-establishing deer populations throughout much of the southeastern U.S. The buck-only harvest strategy is just that—only bucks are eligible for harvest while does are protected. With only a moderate buck harvest the deer population can rapidly grow due to the protection afforded to females. Remember, the white-tailed deer is a polygynous species, which means a single male can breed many females. As long as an adequate number of bucks remain in the population, the deer herd can grow and expand.